⚠️ Box Turtle Information Below ⚠️
1. Diet
When caring for a box turtle, please ensure you're feeding it the proper diet. In these lists, I will give some examples of proper dietary needs and at the end I will list foods you should NOT give your turtle! Ensure you read through this thoroughly before making decisions on what you should feed your turtle!! Cuttlebone should ALWAYS be available for your turtle and a form of calcium should be given 2-3 times weekly.
Amount of Feedings According to AGE :
0-1 YEAR : Daily
YEARLING : Every Other Day
ADULT : Every 3 Days
Should consist 60% protein and animal matter such as :
Butterworms
Sowbugs
Superworms
Beetles
Crickets
Wax Worms
Crayfish
Silkworms
Earthworms
Nightcrawlers
Calci-worms
Dubia Roaches
Feeder Fish
"What types of feeder fish are SAFE for my turtle to eat?"
Swordtail
Endlers
Mollies
Platies
Mosquito
Guppies
Should consist of 20% vegetables such as :
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Okra
Winter and Summer Squash
Should consist of 10% leafy greens such as :
More information on goitrogens below, but feed these listed with (goitrogen) moderately. Limit them to 2-3 times a week at most to ensure a balanced diet.
Dandelion Greens
Mustard Greens (goitrogen)
Collard Greens (goitrogen)
Turnip Greens (goitrogen)
Red Leaf Lettuce
Green Leaf Lettuce
Romaine Lettuce
Kale (goitrogen)
Escarole
Arugula (goitrogen)
Should consist of 10% fruit such as :
Mango
Papaya
Berries (treat)
Grapes (treat)
Apricots
Kiwi
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Plum (treat)
Pear (treat)
Watermelon (treat)
Banana (treat)
Apple (treat)
Peach (treat)
What NOT to feed your turtle :
Some foods on this list are high in oxalates. Feeding oxalates will result in calcium deficiency in a short period of time.
Goitrogens are chemicals that interfere with iodine intakes by suppressing the functions of the thyroid. These foods listed should not be given.
Other foods listed can be TOXIC to your turtle.
Tomato (toxic)
Cabbage (goitrogen)
Avacado (toxic)
Broccoli (goitrogen)
Peas (oxalate)
Peppers (toxic)
Celery (oxalate)
Cauliflower (goitrogen)
Corn (oxalate)
Onion (toxic)
String Beans (toxic)
Spinach (oxalate)
Brussel Sprouts (oxalate)
Purslane (oxalate)
Parsley (oxalate)
Feeder Fish such as :
Goldfish
Spottail Shiner
Emerald Shiner
White Suckers
Rosy Red Minnows
These fish can cause Vitamin B1 deficiencies. If left untreated can be FATAL for your turtle!
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